419 scam: "Michelle Barack Obama"<srhan@infonetg.com> FROM MRS. MICHELLE OBAMA, LAST NOTICE

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Michelle Barack Obama" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mo273591@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2015 22:14:18 -0700
Subject: FROM MRS. MICHELLE OBAMA, LAST NOTICE

FROM MRS. MICHELLE OBAMA, LAST NOTICE

How are you today ,

I am Mrs. Michelle Obama and I am written to inform you about your
Bank Cheque Draft brought by the United Embassy from the government of
Benin Republic in the white house Washington DC which contains the sum
of $20.000.000 millions us dollars credited from the bank of America,
the delivery of your funds has been mandated to be deliver to your
address on September 8th 2015 to you as soon as you get back to me
with your home address and your cell phone number.

Bear in mind that I have taking my time to be in charge of your funds
as instructed by my husband to ensure that you received your funds
successfully from the white house to reduce the economy and I’m the
only one that has your funds in regard to my husband Mr. Barrack
Hussein Obama II and you will have to pay the sum of $$175 only before
your Bank Cheque Draft will deliver to you on September 8th 2015, the
reason why the fee is required is to have your funds clearance paper
from the origin of the funds to avoid any harassment from the
authority and you are also expecting to be announce as winner of the
said amount by September 10th 2015 as soon as your fund is delivered
to you.

So you are urgent advised to get back to me with your home address and
also the payment information today for immediate effect of your
delivery. Note that the $175 is the only fee and final payment you have
my assurance.

However, according to our agreement with the originated Benin
Republic, all our communications should be on email for record purpose
so follow my instruction
accordingly, even if you don’t have the $175 try to borrow it and send
it immediately because this is your life opportunity and I don’t want
you to lose the chance any more.

Please I will advise you to urgent make the payment this morning via
western union or money gram money transfer to the listed cashier
information as instructed you by the originated authority. I will look
forward to received your email today with the payment to enable the
origin secure the required clearance papers required at White House
Benin to deliver your funds. Note that it will take only 14hrs to
deliver your Bank Cheque Draft in receipt of the $175 payment. Please
find the payment data below to send the $175 via western union or money
gram.

Receiver Name: James Ikem
Country Benin Republic
City Cotonou
Question: Urgent
Answer: Needed
Amount: $175
MTCN reference number............
Sender Name...........
Sender's Telephone……
Sender's Address........

I look forward to your respond to your email with the payment today.

Regards

Mrs. Michelle Obama

The White House
(Official Residence of the President of the US)
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500 USA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam